ISP Forensic Service Releases Annual Sexual Assault Kit Report

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KLIX) – The Idaho State Police Forensic Service recently released the annual Sexual Assault Kit Tracking Report to the Idaho Legislature. It also is now available to view online.

The report that contains statistics related to the collection, processing storage of sexual assault kits in Idaho during 2017 was provided to the Legislature on Jan. 19.

According to the report, 456 sexual assault kits were collected from medical providers in 2017, and 509 kits were submitted to the Idaho State Police Forensic Services lab for testing. Among the latter number were both new and previously un-submitted kits. In addition, 316 kits were completed by the forensic lab.

While progress has been made to test previously unsubmitted kits identified in the statewide audit, all sexual assault kits meeting the state statutory requirements will be submitted to either ISPFS or the FBI lab by the end of 2018, according ISPFS Director Matthew Gamette.

"All indications are that the destruction of sexual assault kits in Idaho has stopped and the new state law is being followed," he said.

In January 2017, Idaho became the first state to fully implement a statewide sexual assault kit tracking system, according to ISP.

Gamette said: "This tracking system provides more public accountability and transparency, allows victims to see the state taking this issue seriously, provides better direction and tools to law enforcement, provides more resources to the state forensic laboratory and ultimately provides a better criminal justice system.”